We Get Requests - Oscar Peterson

 

My One And Only Love

We Get Requests

The Oscar Peterson Trio

Produced by Jim Davis

Director of Engineering: Val Valentine

Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson

Verve V-8606

1965

From the back cover: We Get Requests is a perfect example of Oscar Peterson's remarkable two-sided appeal. Technically, the album is filled with above-average melodies development and solid rhythmic blend, while the repertoire is a crowd-pleaser. On this LP the listener is treated to a tasteful mixing of current pop tunes, standards and originals.

It is this quality of variety, especially with the inclusion of recent popular favorites, that best exemplifies the We Get Requests theme of this album. Oscar Peterson has played and continues to play requests in his appearances at clubs around the country, night spots like Basin Street East, in New York City, and the London House in Chicago. Of course, he's no barroom player, and will politely turn down that drunk at table number 10 asking for Melancholy Baby, but any reasonable request, made in the spirit of friendliness and mutual respect, is usually honored.

In recent months, Oscar reports that the trio has been asked to play any number of hit tunes – the fact that he considered them worth playing and presenting in this album – says a lot for the improving quality of today's popular taste. Recent hits that get the unique Peterson treatment in this album are the fine Johnny Mercer-Henry Mancini tune Days Of Wine And Roses; the Barbra Streisand song from the Broadway Funny Girl, People; the Stan Getz-Asturd Gilberto hit, The Girl From Ipanema and the lovely Antonio Carlos Jobim tune Corcovado, which is listed here with its English language title as well, Quiet Nights OF Quiet Stars.

Along with standard Have You Met Miss Jones? and My One And Only Love, there are tunes by the Modern Jazz Quartet's John Lewis, D. & E., a Snuff Smith original, Time And Again and an original by the pianist himself, Goodbye, J. D. You might say this latter composition is a salute to a working associate for it is dedicated to Oscar's Verve a. & r. producer, Jim Davis.

As in his other Verve albums, pianist Peterson is surrounded by his regular working combo, two of the finest professional musicians on their respective instruments playing today, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen. Each contributes immeasurably to the total excellence of this album.

Quiet Nights Of Quiet Star (Corcovado)

The Days Of Wine And Roses

My One And Only Love

People

Have You Met Miss Jones?

You Look Good To Me

The Girl From Ipanema

D. & E. 

Time And Again

Goodbye J. D.